ONE OF GOD'S EXCITING CLIFFHANGERS
Expository; Acts 12: 1-17
12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Introduction; The last minute rescue which is so commonly used to add suspense to drama is not something new! Over and over, God has delivered his people only when it seemed all hope was gone.
In this exciting episode as in the others, there are some important lessons for us to learn.
I.Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Acts 12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
This is a continuation of the persecution of ;
Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
A. Question; Why didn't God give James deliverance like he did Peter? Answer; Which requires the greater faith and Grace, to Live or to die? Which is better? "To depart and be with Christ is far better."
II. Acts 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
A. Persecution will always increase when it is politically advantageous. "Fundamentalist Baiting" is fast becoming a favorite game!
Question; Does this lessen the effectiveness of the christian witness? Consider the events which follow.
III. Acts 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Acts 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
A. The lengths to which men will go to try to stop the Gospel! This might have worked, had it been only a matter of stopping men!
B.' Four quaternions' That's four four-man squads. Sixteen men to guard one Baptist preacher!. Plus one on each side while he sleeps in chains! This has to be a most dangerous criminal!
IV. Another force is at work. The Church prays about something that is beyond their human ability and power.
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
V. Acts 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
This was Jewish time; the evening precedes the day. God seems to wait till the last minute to prove the earnestness of his people.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
VI. Acts 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.Acts 12:8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Acts 12:9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
A. How could Peter sleep at a time like this?! What else COULD he have been doing? It is all in God's hands now. Note the order of events from here on.;
1.Wake up! God is ready to start the action.
2.Get up. (Prepare for action!) and only then did;
3. The chains fell away.Maybe God is following the same schedule with us! Perhaps our hinderances would fall if we woke up and prepared for action!
VII. Acts 12:8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.'Get dressed and follow me'
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
The power which removed the chains, could have clothed him in a Hart, Shaftner and Marx three Piece pinstripe and Florsheim Wingtips but it didn't. Why? Peter was able to dress himself and God does nothing for us we can do for ourselves.
VIII .Acts 12:10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
A. Peter COULD have set there until all the doors and gates were opened, but this one opened ONLY as they approached.
IX. Acts 12:11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Acts 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
Acts 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
Acts 12:14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
Acts 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
Acts 12:16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
Acts 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
A. The surprising victory of answered prayer! But the story would have ended far differently if;--
1.The church had not prayed.
2.Peter had waited for effortless deliverance.
2 Comments:
Jim Zimmerman said...
Did the churches not pray for those who faced the lions in the pits or the gladiators? And yet many were allowed to die. To what end? Why were they allowed such cruel ends when this one was saved? Was their faith stronger? They didn't believe enough to open the door right away and were then amazed that their prayers were asnwered which would indicate they did not truly believe God would spare him. This sermon left me with more questions than answers!
Freddie Creel said...
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify these things. I pray the following might be of some help. Yes, the churches did indeed pray for those who died during the days of persecution.
To what end did they die? One practical answer is that their deaths were a witness to the Grace of God. Even their tormentors were forced to exclaim in wonder, "Their blood is their seed!"
Other than that, only God knows the answer to, ‘Why?’
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Why are some prayers answered and others are not?
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, one of the major points in that lesson was,
"Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." God's will is not ours to command, but to accept.It must also be remembered that death has passed upon all men and all must die,
[Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:]Therefore no one has actually been saved from death but only had the time of his dying postponed for a while.We are to earnestly pray for those in danger or facing death but always remember, "Thy Will be done".Therefore for us to question God concerning any happening or to judge His reasoning is futile.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
I Am Resolved
I AM RESOLVED
TEXT: 1 Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (determined -krino..to decide; make definite decision )
Introduction: New Year's resolutions have been long a subject of levity among men and truly most have been broken almost as soon as they were made. But nevertheless, a child of God needs to make and KEEP the resolve of our text.
I Some examples of resolve
A. Some wrong resolves
1 Pharaoh's wrong resolve
Exo 7:23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
2. Israel's wrong resolve
Exo 32:22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.
Exo 32:23 For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Exo 32:24 And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
B. Some good resolutions that weren't kept.
1. Peter's resolve
Luke 22:33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. Results:
Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Luke 22:62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
2. Ananias and Sapphira
Acts 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Results:
Acts 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.Acts 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
C. Some resolves which were carried out.
1. Joshua - Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
If a man wants a christian family, HE MUST take HIS place as head of his house.
2. David resolved to work for God's house and was blessed
1 Chr 29:1 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
1 Chr 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
1 Chr 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
3. The resolve of the Israelites caused Judah to become powerful under Rehoboam
2 Chr 11:16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.
2 Chr 11:17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
4. Paul's resolve (Text) Henceforth a crown.............
5. The determined resolution of Christ has provided us with a Saviour
Isa 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
II What WE need to resolve
A. Humility
I Pet 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
B. A good list of resolutions;
1 Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1 Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1 Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
1 Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1 Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1 Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
1 Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1 Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
1 Th 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
1 Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (In other words, STUDY!)
1 Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1 Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Th 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
1 Th 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.C. One can only add; Witness and teach 2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
III The resolution the lost need to make
A. To find salvation at all cost. When this resolution is made earnestly, You will find that the cost has already been paid.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acceptable Service
ACCEPTABLE SERVICE
TEXT: Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,which is your reasonable service.
INTRO: What is acceptable service to God? Lost man cannot render it. Much that the saved do doesn’t qualify.
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any manbuild upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,stubble;
1Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shalldeclare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shalltry every man's work of what sort it is.
1Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, heshall receive a reward.
1Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
When Paul penned the words of Eph.2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. giving the simple plan of salvation, he followed in verse 10 with God’s purpose for our lives AFTER salvation;
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship,created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
God has ordained a walk for those he has saved. No other course of action will please Him. The details of this walk are not left to the discretion of man.
As citizens of our nation we may choose to worship God according to the dictates of our consciences but TRUE worship cannot be regulated by human government nor can it be decided by the whims of man. Nowhere in all the Bible do we find that God has left it to the decision of man as to the way He should be served.
Cain tried to worship according to his own desires and incurred God’s displeasure. King Saul sought to offer sacrifices which God had forbidden and lost his throne as a result. Much of the Old Testament is taken up with instruction to Israel as to HOW to worship God. God determined each detail of their relationship with Him, each other and the world around them.
He has so ordered our walk for today. It is not according to the dictates of our consciences that our lives are accepted. It is according to the dictates of the Word of God!
Keep in mind, we are not discussing how to be saved but rather, how to serve after we are saved.
There is one thing that the salvation of our souls and our rendering acceptable service have in common; Both require complete surrender to the will of God.
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all,If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, it wasn’t just a pretty little thing to recite. We must learn to mean it from the very depths of our being when we say “Thy will be done.” To do this might cost you something previously held dear. It might mean changing some of your long held ideas. It could even mean surrendering to some Bible truths you have resisted previously. These things may seem severe, but you will never be able to really worship or offer acceptable service to God until you do.
There was a question asked on the Day of Pentecost that pretty well demonstrates the problem that faces those who would please God. They had witnessed the rejoicing of the disciples who had, up till now, been hiding in the upper room. They had heard, in their own languages, the testimonies of the members of the Jerusalem Church.They had listened with amazement to the masterful dissertation of a Gallillean fisherman called Peter as he preached on some of the most difficult passages of Old Testament prophecy.
They had heard about the wonderful plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.They had heard about and even witnessed the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church as Joel had prophesied and as Jesus had promised. They had heard of the death burial and resurrection of Christ and of the coming judgment.
The Holy Spirit had used the Word and had convicted them.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,
Peter’s sermon had covered the fact of their sin when he laid the responsibility for the death of Christ squarely upon them.
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
These keepers of the Law of Moses suddenly knew that all their supposed righteousness was worthless and they were exposed to the wrath of a righteous God.
When a person realizes that Christ does, indeed, sit at the right hand of the throne of God and that he is aware of what men are doing on this earth, he has to know that such a one must be honored and served. Peter had told them these things in his sermon.
Then came a question from the humbled hearts of these men, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The answer was honest and straightforward. They did NOT ask how to be saved or the answer would have been the same simple answer given the Phillipian jailer when he asked it.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Instead, when faced with the message of salvation and the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit in the Lord’s church, they wanted to know how they might participate in it all.‘What shall we do?” They might well have asked, ”How can we please this one who sits on the throne in heaven and how can we too enjoy the great blessings we have witnessed here today?”
The answer to them is still valid today,
“Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
One must repent and accept Christ as his savior. This is the first step and it is an absolute essential. This saved individual cannot serve in a way pleasing to God, however unless he heeds God’s divine order. Baptism IS ESSENTIAL. Not to salvation but for service. It is the first acceptable work of righteousness that a child of God can perform after salvation. It is the first of the building blocks we can lay as we begin to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.
1Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,which is Jesus Christ.
Following the Lord in Baptism does not complete our responsibilities to our Lord. It only enables us to enter into a life of service as a member of His church. It is the outward manifestation of the new life that is ours in the new birth.
It is a burial and Paul so states it in
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
When one follows Christ in baptism he acknowledges that he is dead to sin through the new birth. He buries the old man, not to make him dead but because he IS dead!
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then?Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Baptism is also a raising from the dead. As one comes up out of the watery grave, he illustrates that he is being raised to walk in a newness of life.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more;death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Only after this can one begin to participate in all the spiritual blessings that are ours in the body of Christ, His Church.
My God Will Supply All Your Needs
MY GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS
Reading: Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
1 Cor 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1 Cor 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1 Cor 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1 Cor 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1 Cor 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
What interests you? Whatever it is, God can top anything man has to offer!Do you get excited about old temples and cathedrals? God has a temple that is two thousand years old where He dwells in all His Glory!
1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Perhaps Sports is your ‘thing’. Then get involved in a race, a fight as a gladiator, a wrestling match, etc. Or debating?
1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend (fight as a gladiator) for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Do you enjoy history? Then soak up two thousand years of adventures as the Lord's Church goes into strange lands, endures hardships, strange cultures, and battles. Sufferings, victories.
Are you intrigued with ‘fortune tellers’? Get acquainted with some who haven’t missed yet! Study the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, John etc. And thrill as you see them continue to come to pass before your very eyes!
Maybe you are into ‘science fiction’? Learn some Sciencific Future TRUTHS!
A. Weather control from farm to farm!
Zec 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.Zec 14:18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
B. A society free from all conflicts and all energy going toward peaceful ends.
Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
C. A world government by a Divine King with glorified beings in His court.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
D. A door opened into another dimension for those beings.
1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
E. Space travel without a ship!
1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Maybe "Ecology’ is your ‘thing’?Let the creator of Eden guide you through the maze of human failures until the desert blossoms like a rose and there will be none to destroy in all the earth!.
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy .
Do you get emotionally involved in tender love stories?Learn that YOU ARE A PARTICIPANT in the greatest love story ever told!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Perhaps you are one on those perverse souls who gets a thrill from danger. Then ignore all these things and keep God out of your life. Perhaps the next step you take will be out into Hell.1 Sam 20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
Reading: Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
1 Cor 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1 Cor 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1 Cor 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1 Cor 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1 Cor 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
What interests you? Whatever it is, God can top anything man has to offer!Do you get excited about old temples and cathedrals? God has a temple that is two thousand years old where He dwells in all His Glory!
1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Perhaps Sports is your ‘thing’. Then get involved in a race, a fight as a gladiator, a wrestling match, etc. Or debating?
1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend (fight as a gladiator) for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Do you enjoy history? Then soak up two thousand years of adventures as the Lord's Church goes into strange lands, endures hardships, strange cultures, and battles. Sufferings, victories.
Are you intrigued with ‘fortune tellers’? Get acquainted with some who haven’t missed yet! Study the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, John etc. And thrill as you see them continue to come to pass before your very eyes!
Maybe you are into ‘science fiction’? Learn some Sciencific Future TRUTHS!
A. Weather control from farm to farm!
Zec 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.Zec 14:18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
B. A society free from all conflicts and all energy going toward peaceful ends.
Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
C. A world government by a Divine King with glorified beings in His court.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
D. A door opened into another dimension for those beings.
1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
E. Space travel without a ship!
1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Maybe "Ecology’ is your ‘thing’?Let the creator of Eden guide you through the maze of human failures until the desert blossoms like a rose and there will be none to destroy in all the earth!.
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy .
Do you get emotionally involved in tender love stories?Learn that YOU ARE A PARTICIPANT in the greatest love story ever told!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Perhaps you are one on those perverse souls who gets a thrill from danger. Then ignore all these things and keep God out of your life. Perhaps the next step you take will be out into Hell.1 Sam 20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
God With His Hands Tied
GOD WITH HIS HANDS TIED
TEXT: Psa 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
Psa 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
INTRO: As a nation, we have sometimes been frustrated with hostage situations. Plenty of power available, but not able to use it. We sometimes watch helplessly as our children or our friends spoil their lives. They need help but won't accept it.Imagine how God must feel as He stands ready to bless mankind and is rejected!
I. God does have the power-
A. To bless nations.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Psa 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Psa 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Psa 89:16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
sa 89:17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
Psa 89:18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
B. He has the power to save sinners.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
C. He has power to restore backslidden christians.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
D. He has power to make churches spiritually strong.
II. Only one thing can tie God's hands in these matters. It is a waste of time to search anywhere else for answers. THE WILL OF MAN!
A. Psa 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
B. Isa 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
C. Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
D.The WILL keeps sinners from being saved.
1.Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
2. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
3.Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
God has freely offered His Son, empowered His Church, convicts by the Holy Spirit, woos and waits, but His hands are tied and he can only grieve at the fate of the wicked.
Ezek 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Joy in Heaven would be so much better, BUT His hands are tied!
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
E. Man's will can keep him from enjoying God's blessings after salvation.
1. He had the answer to the problems of the churches of Asia. It was up to them to listen and apply the answers.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Rev 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
2. To seek answers elsewhere is to tie God's hands!Many christian lives are wasted by turning to men for answers when only God can give answers with Power. When we are not willing to accept God's Word, we must settle for a second-rate and potentially ruinous answer.
III Dare to Loose God to work in your life!
1. Accept Christ with NO reservations.
2. Follow the instructions of the WORD wherever it may lead.
3. Dare to repent and put God first in your affections and your life.The record in Acts is not the story of a group of Super-Christians, but the account of everyday, bumbling, garden-variety christians who had the courage to unleash God by submitting their wills to Him! Have you the courage? God's power awaits!
TEXT: Psa 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
Psa 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
INTRO: As a nation, we have sometimes been frustrated with hostage situations. Plenty of power available, but not able to use it. We sometimes watch helplessly as our children or our friends spoil their lives. They need help but won't accept it.Imagine how God must feel as He stands ready to bless mankind and is rejected!
I. God does have the power-
A. To bless nations.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Psa 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Psa 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Psa 89:16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
sa 89:17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
Psa 89:18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
B. He has the power to save sinners.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
C. He has power to restore backslidden christians.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
D. He has power to make churches spiritually strong.
II. Only one thing can tie God's hands in these matters. It is a waste of time to search anywhere else for answers. THE WILL OF MAN!
A. Psa 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
B. Isa 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
C. Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
D.The WILL keeps sinners from being saved.
1.Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
2. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
3.Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
God has freely offered His Son, empowered His Church, convicts by the Holy Spirit, woos and waits, but His hands are tied and he can only grieve at the fate of the wicked.
Ezek 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Joy in Heaven would be so much better, BUT His hands are tied!
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
E. Man's will can keep him from enjoying God's blessings after salvation.
1. He had the answer to the problems of the churches of Asia. It was up to them to listen and apply the answers.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Rev 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
2. To seek answers elsewhere is to tie God's hands!Many christian lives are wasted by turning to men for answers when only God can give answers with Power. When we are not willing to accept God's Word, we must settle for a second-rate and potentially ruinous answer.
III Dare to Loose God to work in your life!
1. Accept Christ with NO reservations.
2. Follow the instructions of the WORD wherever it may lead.
3. Dare to repent and put God first in your affections and your life.The record in Acts is not the story of a group of Super-Christians, but the account of everyday, bumbling, garden-variety christians who had the courage to unleash God by submitting their wills to Him! Have you the courage? God's power awaits!
What's In The Bag?
WHAT’S IN THE BAG?
Hag 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
In the logging era of a generation ago, it was common for many loggers to spend a month or so in the woods and a weekend in town spending their wages. The story is told of one such man who walked out on the platform to await the train back to the woods. He carried a burlap bag over his shoulder. His clothes were soiled and worn. Resignedly ,he dropped the bag at his feet and sat down upon it. Someone asked, "What do you have in the bag?" His answer was, "I have just passed my sixtieth birthday and everything I have accumulated in all those years is in that bag."
Perhaps we should all pause and consider. "What do I have in MY bag?" Men are willing to labor for that which they value. [A community character who would work real hard long enough to make the price of a plug of his favorite chewing tobacco] Do we value heavenly things?
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Men are willing to fight for that which they treasure. [Savage willing to die for an intrinsically worthless ‘medicine bag’.] What do you consider worth fighting for?
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Many things we treasure will not last.
A. Silver and gold?: God can gather your eggs!
Isa 10:14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
B. Anything not of God:
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Let’s inventory the contents of our ‘bag’.
A. A few ‘good times’
Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
1 Tim 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Eccl 7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity
B. Physical Ability [In high school I set records for the 440. Now I can’t even tell you what my time was, nor can I walk across the street without a rest, even with my walker..]
1 Tim 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
C. A Vow forgotten
Eccl 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Eccl 5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
D. Down in the middle of the bag- a hard knot of stubbornness."It’s MY life and I’ll do as I please!"
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
E. Lost Opportunities to serve God hidden among worthless ‘treasures’F. What’s this hidden in the bottom? I don’t want it seen!
1.A hard word or thought of jealousy or hatred.
2. An effort to cheat God ‘Just a little bit.' " I’ll make up my tithes next month."
3. A secret sin --- it’s no secret from God.
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
G. Or I could be like a child on his birthday, thrilling at all the goodies.
Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Salvation.
Daily blessings.
Service to the Lord and souls won for Him.
Hag 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
In the logging era of a generation ago, it was common for many loggers to spend a month or so in the woods and a weekend in town spending their wages. The story is told of one such man who walked out on the platform to await the train back to the woods. He carried a burlap bag over his shoulder. His clothes were soiled and worn. Resignedly ,he dropped the bag at his feet and sat down upon it. Someone asked, "What do you have in the bag?" His answer was, "I have just passed my sixtieth birthday and everything I have accumulated in all those years is in that bag."
Perhaps we should all pause and consider. "What do I have in MY bag?" Men are willing to labor for that which they value. [A community character who would work real hard long enough to make the price of a plug of his favorite chewing tobacco] Do we value heavenly things?
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Men are willing to fight for that which they treasure. [Savage willing to die for an intrinsically worthless ‘medicine bag’.] What do you consider worth fighting for?
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Many things we treasure will not last.
A. Silver and gold?: God can gather your eggs!
Isa 10:14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
B. Anything not of God:
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Let’s inventory the contents of our ‘bag’.
A. A few ‘good times’
Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
1 Tim 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Eccl 7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity
B. Physical Ability [In high school I set records for the 440. Now I can’t even tell you what my time was, nor can I walk across the street without a rest, even with my walker..]
1 Tim 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
C. A Vow forgotten
Eccl 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Eccl 5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
D. Down in the middle of the bag- a hard knot of stubbornness."It’s MY life and I’ll do as I please!"
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
E. Lost Opportunities to serve God hidden among worthless ‘treasures’F. What’s this hidden in the bottom? I don’t want it seen!
1.A hard word or thought of jealousy or hatred.
2. An effort to cheat God ‘Just a little bit.' " I’ll make up my tithes next month."
3. A secret sin --- it’s no secret from God.
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
G. Or I could be like a child on his birthday, thrilling at all the goodies.
Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Salvation.
Daily blessings.
Service to the Lord and souls won for Him.
God's Impossible Demands
God's Impossible Demands
Text: Matt. 5:20, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
If we were to face this demand with only the abilities of man to perform righteousness, then it would certainly be an impossible demand. The Pharisees carried outward righteousness to extremes, and nowhere in the scripture are they actually rebuked for this, but only for leaving off the inner righteousness that can come only from God.
Consider two main thoughts:
First, the fact that works of righteousness cannot produce a righteous soul. God, being perfect, cannot be satisfied with anything less than perfect righteousness. Man, being born in sin cannot produce righteous works.
There is no use trying to meet God's requirements by the keeping of any law, for the Word of God says, in
Rom. 3:20,`By the deeds of the law, there shall be no flesh justified in his sight.'
Nor can it be done by ethical or moral standards, or even by keeping the Golden rule as some claim to do, for we are told in
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy hath he saved us.
What must be seen is the hopelessness of man ever meeting the standard of righteousness demanded by a holy God, as long as he depends upon his own abilities. It is impossible for man to meet the demands of holiness and it is equally impossible for God to lower those requirements.
So, enter the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. Here is the one way that man can stand before God in perfect righteousness. Our righteousness can exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, for it is the righteousness of Christ, who was made our sin-bearer.
Thus, the imputed righteousness of Christ cannot be earned for we are told in
Rom. 4:4-5 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Praise God for His wonderful Grace! He has made it possible for man through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, to attain that otherwise impossible state of perfect righteousness, which opens to us all the joys of that perfect place we call heaven. Think of the wisdom of God in this. If it HAD, in some way been possible for God to have allowed the ALMOST PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS to enter in, then sin would have had a toehold in heaven and would continue to plague man for eternity! But thanks be to God, He has ruled out sin and its sorrows ,thereby upholding His Holy demands, and yet has opened the way for sinful man by providing that perfection in Christ!
Now for the second main thought. The standard of righteousness in the lives of those who are saved must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees to please Christ. How sad and tragic when one sees the truth of salvation by grace without works and then uses it as an excuse to satisfy the flesh by saying "since I'm not saved by works it doesn't matter how I live."
Jesus referred to the demands of the Law several times in his teaching. NOT ONCE DID HE LOWER ITS STANDARDS in his own demands, but in every case he raised those standards!
Where the Law had said, Thou shalt not kill, Jesus said, "But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause is in danger of the judgment.
The Law had said, thou shalt not COMMIT adultery, but Jesus said, "whosoever LOOKS upon a woman to lust hath committed adultery already in his heart.
They had been taught that if a person had sworn an oath, then he must perform it, but Jesus taught his disciples that even without any oath, they must be honest. Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay,nay. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, said the Law. Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him thy other also, said Christ.
Love thy neighbor, hate thy enemy was the way of the law, but the righteousness of the disciple of Christ must exceed this as Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you.
There are really two very simple reasons why more is demanded of us under grace than of them under Law.
First, because under the Law, it was up to man, to judge the offenders’ guilt and execute the penalty of the Law. Since man can only see the actions and not the heart from which those actions spring, man can only judge those things which have been put into action. Therefore the murder must have been committed before the penalty could be carried out; the adultery must have been done before the stones could be cast.
But now, we are told that we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and He who looks upon the heart of man will judge. Not simply according to the deeds committed but even for our motives and desires.
The second reason why more is demanded under grace than under law, is that those who have received Christ into their hearts and lives, have the ability through Him to reach a state of righteousness in their lives that is absolutely impossible for those who depend upon their own strength, and determination to ever attain.
What a tragic waste of life and opportunity, when one who has been saved by the grace of God and to whom the perfect righteousness of Christ has been imputed, is willing to settle for less in his service of love than the Pharisees demanded of themselves out of fear and pride!
An impossible standard? Yes! If one expects to meet it by the flesh alone. But by the aid of the Spirit of God, we can exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, because our good works shall proceed, not from a heart filled with the desire of the praise of men, but from a heart that has been made free from sin by the blood of Christ, and a heart in which the love of God has been shed abroad by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us!
To abstain from evil is not enough for those who would please Christ,but the command is to abstain from all appearance of evil. The one who is saved but still desires to be conformed to the world, is far short of the acceptable standard that Christ has set. It is a standard that can be met and Paul told us how in the twelfth chapter of Romans, "but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." When this is done, we are on our way to becoming fruitful servants for our Lord. With the help of the grace of God it is possible to be what God wants us to be.
I’M RICH
My father is rich in cattle
In houses, in land, and in gold,
He owns the earth and the heavens,
His riches are untold.
My Father owns time and eternity,
He controls it, it's all in His power,
And He gives to me an allowance
Of time, hour by hour.
Each moment shines as a diamond,
Set in its hour of gold.
It gleams upon the breast of days.
Each one is mine till it's sold.
Help me, Father, to treasure each one
And not sell it for earth's passing dross,
But buy with it, treasures in heaven
By taking up my cross.
fcc
Text: Matt. 5:20, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
If we were to face this demand with only the abilities of man to perform righteousness, then it would certainly be an impossible demand. The Pharisees carried outward righteousness to extremes, and nowhere in the scripture are they actually rebuked for this, but only for leaving off the inner righteousness that can come only from God.
Consider two main thoughts:
First, the fact that works of righteousness cannot produce a righteous soul. God, being perfect, cannot be satisfied with anything less than perfect righteousness. Man, being born in sin cannot produce righteous works.
There is no use trying to meet God's requirements by the keeping of any law, for the Word of God says, in
Rom. 3:20,`By the deeds of the law, there shall be no flesh justified in his sight.'
Nor can it be done by ethical or moral standards, or even by keeping the Golden rule as some claim to do, for we are told in
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy hath he saved us.
What must be seen is the hopelessness of man ever meeting the standard of righteousness demanded by a holy God, as long as he depends upon his own abilities. It is impossible for man to meet the demands of holiness and it is equally impossible for God to lower those requirements.
So, enter the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. Here is the one way that man can stand before God in perfect righteousness. Our righteousness can exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, for it is the righteousness of Christ, who was made our sin-bearer.
Thus, the imputed righteousness of Christ cannot be earned for we are told in
Rom. 4:4-5 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Praise God for His wonderful Grace! He has made it possible for man through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, to attain that otherwise impossible state of perfect righteousness, which opens to us all the joys of that perfect place we call heaven. Think of the wisdom of God in this. If it HAD, in some way been possible for God to have allowed the ALMOST PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS to enter in, then sin would have had a toehold in heaven and would continue to plague man for eternity! But thanks be to God, He has ruled out sin and its sorrows ,thereby upholding His Holy demands, and yet has opened the way for sinful man by providing that perfection in Christ!
Now for the second main thought. The standard of righteousness in the lives of those who are saved must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees to please Christ. How sad and tragic when one sees the truth of salvation by grace without works and then uses it as an excuse to satisfy the flesh by saying "since I'm not saved by works it doesn't matter how I live."
Jesus referred to the demands of the Law several times in his teaching. NOT ONCE DID HE LOWER ITS STANDARDS in his own demands, but in every case he raised those standards!
Where the Law had said, Thou shalt not kill, Jesus said, "But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause is in danger of the judgment.
The Law had said, thou shalt not COMMIT adultery, but Jesus said, "whosoever LOOKS upon a woman to lust hath committed adultery already in his heart.
They had been taught that if a person had sworn an oath, then he must perform it, but Jesus taught his disciples that even without any oath, they must be honest. Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay,nay. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, said the Law. Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him thy other also, said Christ.
Love thy neighbor, hate thy enemy was the way of the law, but the righteousness of the disciple of Christ must exceed this as Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you.
There are really two very simple reasons why more is demanded of us under grace than of them under Law.
First, because under the Law, it was up to man, to judge the offenders’ guilt and execute the penalty of the Law. Since man can only see the actions and not the heart from which those actions spring, man can only judge those things which have been put into action. Therefore the murder must have been committed before the penalty could be carried out; the adultery must have been done before the stones could be cast.
But now, we are told that we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and He who looks upon the heart of man will judge. Not simply according to the deeds committed but even for our motives and desires.
The second reason why more is demanded under grace than under law, is that those who have received Christ into their hearts and lives, have the ability through Him to reach a state of righteousness in their lives that is absolutely impossible for those who depend upon their own strength, and determination to ever attain.
What a tragic waste of life and opportunity, when one who has been saved by the grace of God and to whom the perfect righteousness of Christ has been imputed, is willing to settle for less in his service of love than the Pharisees demanded of themselves out of fear and pride!
An impossible standard? Yes! If one expects to meet it by the flesh alone. But by the aid of the Spirit of God, we can exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, because our good works shall proceed, not from a heart filled with the desire of the praise of men, but from a heart that has been made free from sin by the blood of Christ, and a heart in which the love of God has been shed abroad by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us!
To abstain from evil is not enough for those who would please Christ,but the command is to abstain from all appearance of evil. The one who is saved but still desires to be conformed to the world, is far short of the acceptable standard that Christ has set. It is a standard that can be met and Paul told us how in the twelfth chapter of Romans, "but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." When this is done, we are on our way to becoming fruitful servants for our Lord. With the help of the grace of God it is possible to be what God wants us to be.
I’M RICH
My father is rich in cattle
In houses, in land, and in gold,
He owns the earth and the heavens,
His riches are untold.
My Father owns time and eternity,
He controls it, it's all in His power,
And He gives to me an allowance
Of time, hour by hour.
Each moment shines as a diamond,
Set in its hour of gold.
It gleams upon the breast of days.
Each one is mine till it's sold.
Help me, Father, to treasure each one
And not sell it for earth's passing dross,
But buy with it, treasures in heaven
By taking up my cross.
fcc
WHY WILL YE DIE?
Ezek 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Intro: One of the most perplexing questions ever posed; Why will man refuse the gift of eternal life in Christ?
I Many excuses, but not one sane reason for rejecting Christ.
A. While the character of some people might repel us, it surely cannot be said of Christ!
1. Is He a bully? See Him reach out in compassion to the fallen and the poor!
2. A Smart Alec? Read the fifth and sixth chapters of Matthew.
3. Cruel? Jesus Wept!
4. A coward? See Him cleanse the Temple!
5. Withdrawn and distant? See Him gather the crowd or lift the little child.
6. Arrogant?
Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
7. A weakling? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!
B. Man's excuses are not rational.
1. The discipline is too strict - Consider the strictness of many secret orders; some false religions and religious orders. They do not lack for adherents and they don't have the help of the Holy Spirit!
2. It requires too much humility. Look at the degrading effect of sin and compare that with the victorious proclamation of God's people; "Beloved, Now are we the Sons of God!"
3. I had it forced on me as a child and now I don't want it anymore.
a. Why don't idol worshiper's children feel this way? Or; Why do those taught against God, atheists and idol worshipers, not feel this way?
Jer 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Jer 2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water
b. Why not reject ALL your childhood training? Quit drinking milk, brushing your teeth, looking both ways before crossing the street, etc.? These are for the welfare of the body, the other is for the welfare of your eternal soul!
4. I had an unpleasant experience once with a; church, preacher, christian, etc.
a. Why doesn't the boy thrown out of the ball-park, hate baseball?
b. Will one let his teeth rot out because he once met an incompetent dentist?
c. If one patient dies on the operating table, shall we close down the hospitals?
C. Why will YOU die?
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
1. No man will ever perish because God wills it!
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2. None will perish because the blood was insufficient to save.
2 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2 Cor 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
3. No one will suffer in hell because of the lack of power in the Gospel.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
4. No one will suffer in hell because of the Adamic sin
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the SIN of the world.
(Had he said "sins of the world, then there would be no need of repentance, all would automatically be saved.)
Ezek 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
5. Satan offers irrational excuses. God offers eternal life!
An Every Day Christ
AN EVERYDAY CHRIST
John 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
John 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
John 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
John 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
How very typical of Christ, that He should meet his disciples in such a prosaic setting. While they are engaged in the everyday activity of earning a living, they enjoy the fellowship of meeting and even dining with Christ! He is still to be found among the common things of life.
I. They knew not that it was Jesus.
John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
They hadn’t expected to find him here.
A. Perhaps they had expected Him to wait for them in the garden of prayer.
B. Maybe they were expecting another ‘upper room’ experience.
C. Many today long to go back to ‘the old home church’ and find Christ waiting for them.You’ll enjoy the presence of Christ in your present, everyday activities or not at all!
D. Remembering His promise to someday appear in clouds of great glory, they might have been scanning the eastern sky. If you can’t enjoy the presence of Christ in your everyday labors, why yearn for His Glorious Appearing, at which you will be judged for your shortcomings?
E. In the everyday surroundings, Christ speaks.
John 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?
[are you having any success?] They answered him, No.
Christ is concerned with our mundane lives. They had not included Jesus in their endeavors and were not successful until they did.
II. Throughout His earthly ministry, He was associated with the commonplace.
A. In His birth: Not in a palace with a queen for a mother. Circumstances low enough that even shepherds could be comfortable in his presence and marvel.
B. In His upbringing: Not the finest tutors and universities, but a carpenter's home in a wicked little town.
John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?
C. His earthly ministry begins at an ordinary human function.
John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
[If you can't feel free to invite Christ to the wedding, how can you expect Him to bless the marriage?]
D. He demonstrated the fact that real dignity is not to be found in regal bearing nor fine dress and riches, but rather in the the inner man. SIN is the only real indignity to the human race!
III. In His teachings He always used the common things; the trees; a sower; the vine; fig tree; a flock and shepherd; the little child. Why?
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
IV. John 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.John 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.
They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.Christ knows more about your job and daily life than you do!!
Therefore; Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Prov 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
A. All of our struggles and labors without Christ will always ultimately bring the same answer, "NO. We have accomplished nothing, We are empty." Solomon found this to be vanity.
Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Eccl 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
B. As fishers of men, we will have a good catch when we obey the Master Fisherman. He knows the need of men and to what they will respond. "Preach the Word!"
V. John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.
They feasted. Not on the bounty of their catch, but on that which the Lord supplied. Our spiritual needs do not depend on human supply,
VI. Conclusion; Christ waits now among the common things of your daily life to direct and to bless.He waits with a simple plan of salvation, to give eternal life to the lost.
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
We Walk Not Yet In Heaven’s Halls
What matters it if future things
lie far beyond our ken?
We trod not yet in heaven’s halls,
but in common paths of men.
Our ears have not yet heard the praise
of heaven’s angel host.
They must be fitted first to hear
the pleadings of the lost.
Our lips cannot, in present state,
sing that final victory song
in glorious words and harmony
with raptured, risen throng.
But we can sing, "Amazing Grace
that saved a wretch like me;"
And we can tell men how He came
and died to set men free!
Let us then, while waiting,
hearts fixed on things above,
learn to serve Him ‘here and now’
telling of His love.
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Inheritance Of The Meek
INHERITANCE OF THE MEEK
Text: Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
These words of Jesus are found in the first part of what has come to be known as the 'Beatitudes' or beautiful teachings. They have struck a chord in the hearts of men everywhere. The earth's multitudes, whether known as peasants, servants, serfs, slaves or citizens have always had a common longing; to own their own home and land. This desire has fueled many revolutions and led to the expansion of the U.S.A. across the continent as people from all nations came seeking their part of 'The American Dream'.
Years ago I jokingly said, to an elderly Native American friend, "maybe we should give the country back to the Indians". His reply was, ' Hmph, What would we do with it now? It would take a hundred years to get the hunting back into decent shape!"
The meek shall indeed inherit the earth, but what would we do with it in its present condition? Consider the mess we would inherit. Were it not for the inflated values placed upon material things, the total net worth of all nations wouldn’t cover the national debts!
Mankind finds itself in a seemingly insoluble dilemma. On the one hand, there are the teeming multitudes of humanity, for which the necessities of life must be provided, while on the other hand, there are those who complain that the industrial and agricultural activities which provide them, are threatening to make the earth unfit for habitation!
While the search frantically goes on for answers, the conflicting ideologies of nations holds the constant threat of destructive war over our heads. The moral fiber of mankind deteriorates steadily, even as a large segment of the population seeks what they call a 'meaningful relationship with God.Truly, as we look around us we see what Jesus referred to as the distress (perplexity) of nations. Luke 21:25 'and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
The question that comes to mind is this; If the meek should inherit the earth in its present condition, would it make them happy? What would they do with it? If there were not some changes made first, could they keep it? If the devil and his crowd were still around in force, and with as few restrictions on them as they have today, all they would have to do is slap the meek on one cheek, and while they were busy turning the other, steal away their inheritance!
Does all this mean that Jesus was not serious when He promised that the "Meek shall inherit the earth?" NO! He did mean it and He meant it literally. However, there are going to be some changes made before He turns it over to those of His people who shall reign over it.
The meek will not inherit an earth filled with hatred, sin, godlessness, poverty, pollution and war. Rather they will be given a world that has been restored to the condition He intended it to be when He created it.
Men may search for, and politicians may promise, peace and prosperity, but until the time comes that the meek shall inherit the earth, there will be no lasting peace and no universal prosperity.
If it were possible for the nations to divert all the technical knowledge, energy, and wealth, now being spent on armament, to wipe out poverty and want, progress might be made toward that goal. This is not possible, however, because with human nature being depraved as it is, any nation that tried such a thing, would soon find themselves at the mercy of another nation with a craving for dominance.
Will things ever change? YES! But it will not come about by the efforts of man but by the power of Christ the King.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
To have assurance of that time helps us to understand why those who have their minds fixed upon spiritual things are not overwhelmed by this present evil world.It will be a time of true world peace.
Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
Micah 4:5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
No need then, for a standing army to drain the manpower, or huge defense budgets to claim the major part of the economy. Christ, Himself, shall sit upon David's throne, ruling with a rod of iron. World peace will reign, for the Prince of Peace will speak with absolute authority.
Since Adam was driven from the Garden, mankind has longed to return to its prosperous environment.. He has dreamed up his Utopias and wars on poverty. He sincerely expected science to solve all his problems. All he got for his troubles, was more of the same old thing. The more prosperous some became, the more visible and miserable the ‘have nots’ viewed themselves.
This will all be different when we receive our inheritance.
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Since Adam sinned, the earth has been under the curse placed upon it.
Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Like the curse of sin upon the human soul, that curse is lifted through Jesus Christ. I can almost hear Isaiah shout with joy as he pens the words,
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Many today worry and fret about man upsetting the balance of nature. That will be of no concern then, for the Author of nature will be in charge. Just who are these ‘Meek’ who shall inherit the earth? No, He is not speaking of the weak-kneed milquetoast who hasn’t the back bone to say "no" to sin. Rather he is referring to those who are humble and submissive to His will.
Neither beatings, stoning, imprisonment, shipwreck, cold, hunger nor threat of death, could keep the Apostle Paul from speaking boldly before kings and magistrates of the saving grace of Christ. Yet it was with the deepest meekness and humility that he writes.
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
It may not fit our concept of meekness, to picture Peter and those who labored with him , defying the Sanhedrin, to preach Christ. Yet it is with true meekness that he says,
Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. And,
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
No one can even think of claiming this promised inheritance until he has come in meekness and humility, repenting of his sins, and been born again of the Spirit of God.
It is to those who have been born again, that Paul speaks,
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Please note that even though every child is an heir, only those who suffer with Christ, are joint heirs with Him. The need for meekness does not end with salvation, but continues as we follow meekly in Scriptural service to our Lord. It is of himself, and those who have been meek enough to follow Christ, that John speaks,
Rev 1:5 Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Yes, the meek shall indeed inherit the earth. But not by the power of a Will that might be contested in an earthly court, but by a grant from the King Of Kings.
WHEN I STAND BEFORE HIM
When I shall stand before my Lord,
With all earth’s moments past,
No more to till His vineyard
But to reap reward at last,
Then, I wonder, will I hear Him say,
Well done, my child, well done;
You’ve labored long and faithfully
And many crowns you’ve won.
Will He say, You pleased me daily
As so diligently you worked,
Telling souls of saving grace
And almost never shirked?
When at last I stand before Him,
Will He greet me with a smileAnd say,
Rest now, weary Pilgrim,
You’ve trod your final mile?
Or, when I stand before Him
Will I hear Him sadly say,
You wasted precious hours.
You threw you life away.
You let the days and weeks slip by,
As pleasure's cup you drank,
You have no treasures stored here
They’re in some earthly bank!
I know someday I’ll see Him;
I shall stand before His throne
And hear the words, Thou slothful servant,
Or, Well done my child well done.
fcc
Text: Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
These words of Jesus are found in the first part of what has come to be known as the 'Beatitudes' or beautiful teachings. They have struck a chord in the hearts of men everywhere. The earth's multitudes, whether known as peasants, servants, serfs, slaves or citizens have always had a common longing; to own their own home and land. This desire has fueled many revolutions and led to the expansion of the U.S.A. across the continent as people from all nations came seeking their part of 'The American Dream'.
Years ago I jokingly said, to an elderly Native American friend, "maybe we should give the country back to the Indians". His reply was, ' Hmph, What would we do with it now? It would take a hundred years to get the hunting back into decent shape!"
The meek shall indeed inherit the earth, but what would we do with it in its present condition? Consider the mess we would inherit. Were it not for the inflated values placed upon material things, the total net worth of all nations wouldn’t cover the national debts!
Mankind finds itself in a seemingly insoluble dilemma. On the one hand, there are the teeming multitudes of humanity, for which the necessities of life must be provided, while on the other hand, there are those who complain that the industrial and agricultural activities which provide them, are threatening to make the earth unfit for habitation!
While the search frantically goes on for answers, the conflicting ideologies of nations holds the constant threat of destructive war over our heads. The moral fiber of mankind deteriorates steadily, even as a large segment of the population seeks what they call a 'meaningful relationship with God.Truly, as we look around us we see what Jesus referred to as the distress (perplexity) of nations. Luke 21:25 'and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
The question that comes to mind is this; If the meek should inherit the earth in its present condition, would it make them happy? What would they do with it? If there were not some changes made first, could they keep it? If the devil and his crowd were still around in force, and with as few restrictions on them as they have today, all they would have to do is slap the meek on one cheek, and while they were busy turning the other, steal away their inheritance!
Does all this mean that Jesus was not serious when He promised that the "Meek shall inherit the earth?" NO! He did mean it and He meant it literally. However, there are going to be some changes made before He turns it over to those of His people who shall reign over it.
The meek will not inherit an earth filled with hatred, sin, godlessness, poverty, pollution and war. Rather they will be given a world that has been restored to the condition He intended it to be when He created it.
Men may search for, and politicians may promise, peace and prosperity, but until the time comes that the meek shall inherit the earth, there will be no lasting peace and no universal prosperity.
If it were possible for the nations to divert all the technical knowledge, energy, and wealth, now being spent on armament, to wipe out poverty and want, progress might be made toward that goal. This is not possible, however, because with human nature being depraved as it is, any nation that tried such a thing, would soon find themselves at the mercy of another nation with a craving for dominance.
Will things ever change? YES! But it will not come about by the efforts of man but by the power of Christ the King.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
To have assurance of that time helps us to understand why those who have their minds fixed upon spiritual things are not overwhelmed by this present evil world.It will be a time of true world peace.
Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
Micah 4:5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
No need then, for a standing army to drain the manpower, or huge defense budgets to claim the major part of the economy. Christ, Himself, shall sit upon David's throne, ruling with a rod of iron. World peace will reign, for the Prince of Peace will speak with absolute authority.
Since Adam was driven from the Garden, mankind has longed to return to its prosperous environment.. He has dreamed up his Utopias and wars on poverty. He sincerely expected science to solve all his problems. All he got for his troubles, was more of the same old thing. The more prosperous some became, the more visible and miserable the ‘have nots’ viewed themselves.
This will all be different when we receive our inheritance.
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Since Adam sinned, the earth has been under the curse placed upon it.
Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Like the curse of sin upon the human soul, that curse is lifted through Jesus Christ. I can almost hear Isaiah shout with joy as he pens the words,
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Many today worry and fret about man upsetting the balance of nature. That will be of no concern then, for the Author of nature will be in charge. Just who are these ‘Meek’ who shall inherit the earth? No, He is not speaking of the weak-kneed milquetoast who hasn’t the back bone to say "no" to sin. Rather he is referring to those who are humble and submissive to His will.
Neither beatings, stoning, imprisonment, shipwreck, cold, hunger nor threat of death, could keep the Apostle Paul from speaking boldly before kings and magistrates of the saving grace of Christ. Yet it was with the deepest meekness and humility that he writes.
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
It may not fit our concept of meekness, to picture Peter and those who labored with him , defying the Sanhedrin, to preach Christ. Yet it is with true meekness that he says,
Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. And,
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
No one can even think of claiming this promised inheritance until he has come in meekness and humility, repenting of his sins, and been born again of the Spirit of God.
It is to those who have been born again, that Paul speaks,
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Please note that even though every child is an heir, only those who suffer with Christ, are joint heirs with Him. The need for meekness does not end with salvation, but continues as we follow meekly in Scriptural service to our Lord. It is of himself, and those who have been meek enough to follow Christ, that John speaks,
Rev 1:5 Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Yes, the meek shall indeed inherit the earth. But not by the power of a Will that might be contested in an earthly court, but by a grant from the King Of Kings.
WHEN I STAND BEFORE HIM
When I shall stand before my Lord,
With all earth’s moments past,
No more to till His vineyard
But to reap reward at last,
Then, I wonder, will I hear Him say,
Well done, my child, well done;
You’ve labored long and faithfully
And many crowns you’ve won.
Will He say, You pleased me daily
As so diligently you worked,
Telling souls of saving grace
And almost never shirked?
When at last I stand before Him,
Will He greet me with a smileAnd say,
Rest now, weary Pilgrim,
You’ve trod your final mile?
Or, when I stand before Him
Will I hear Him sadly say,
You wasted precious hours.
You threw you life away.
You let the days and weeks slip by,
As pleasure's cup you drank,
You have no treasures stored here
They’re in some earthly bank!
I know someday I’ll see Him;
I shall stand before His throne
And hear the words, Thou slothful servant,
Or, Well done my child well done.
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